OMAHA, Neb. – The Creighton men’s basketball team announced its non-conference schedule for 2013-14 on Friday, and could face as many as eight postseason teams from a year ago before starting its first season in the BIG EAST Conference.

“We’re really excited about the non-conference schedule that we were able to put together,” said fourth-year head coach Greg McDermott. “It’s got seven home games, including Nebraska, and all five of our games away from home will be a challenge. I think it’s a great mix to get us prepared for our first season in the BIG EAST.”

Creighton’s only public exhibition will be held on Friday, Nov. 1, when the Jays host Division II Northern State. The teams met in exhibition play in 2010, a 79-67 Bluejay win in Omaha.

Regular-season play starts five days later when CU hosts Alcorn State on Nov. 8. Three days later, the Jays welcome UMKC to town in the first meeting between the schools since 1998. Among the players on UMKC’s roster is senior Kirk Korver, youngest brother of former Bluejay basketball players Kyle (1999-03) and Kaleb (2008-11) Korver.

Creighton hits the road for the first time on Nov. 16 when it makes the first of two trips to Philadelphia on the year with a game at fellow Jesuit power Saint Joseph’s. It will be the sixth meeting of the schools in the past seven years, and 11th overall.

Creighton returns home with a Nov. 23rd game vs. Tulsa, the third match-up in a four-game contract with the Golden Hurricane.

The Wooden Legacy is up next, where Creighton will play three games in four days in Fullerton and Anaheim, Calif. Brackets for that event were announced Wednesday and feature Creighton opening with Arizona State in a rematch of the 2012 Las Vegas Invitational title game. From there, the Jays will take on either San Diego State or College of Charleston. The tournament will take a one-day hiatus before wrapping up in Anaheim on Dec. 1st, where CU could meet either George Washington, Marquette, Miami (Fla.) or event host Cal State Fullerton.

Creighton remains in California following The Wooden Legacy, as it will make the short trip to play Long Beach State on Dec. 3rd.

The Jays close out non-conference play with four consecutive home games, starting with a Dec. 8 contest vs. Nebraska. Following a week off due to final exams, Creighton welcomes in Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Dec. 17 before hosting California on Dec. 22. The Jays also play Chicago State on Dec. 29 before embarking on their first BIG EAST Conference campaign.

After playing an 18-game league slate, the Jays will travel to New York City to participate in the BIG EAST Tournament, an event scheduled for Madison Square Garden from March 12-15.

Game times will be finalized in the coming months and updated on GoCreighton.com once confirmed. Creighton’s BIG EAST Conference schedule is expected to be released around Labor Day.

Creighton returns four starters from a team that went 28-8 last season and swept MVC regular-season and tournament titles in 2012-13. For ticket information, fans can call (402) 280-JAYS.